Wedding flowers can be one of the most difficult parts of the planning process. Unfortunately, it’s not just the flowers for the ceremony and reception that you have to worry about. Instead, there’s much more to it than that. Corsages and boutonnieres have to be factored in too. Are you familiar with who gets what? Do you know who is supposed to pay for each one? This quick guide can help.

Who gets What?

Wedding etiquette actually doesn’t actually dictate that any particular person has to have a corsage or a boutonniere. Common practice, though, holds that parents and grandparents all wear one. Additionally, the groom, groomsman, ushers, bride, and bridesmaids all wear one too. It is possible you may want to include the ring bearer as well.

In most cases, the bride and the groom’s should be slightly different from those for everyone else. If there are others who are particularly important to you, like family members, readers, or performers at your wedding, feel free to include them as well.

Keep in mind, however, that once you start including family, it’s easy to end up with hurt feelings because you chose not to include someone or you overlooked someone else.

Who’s Paying and What Will it Cost?

Most wedding etiquette experts suggest that it is the responsibility of the groom to pay for the corsages and boutonnieres, even if someone else is picking up the bill for the floral costs. They bride’s family is supposed to pick up the costs for all of the other flowers involved in the wedding. These days, however, who pays for what is up for grabs in many cases. If the two of you are handling all of your wedding costs anyway, you may want to go ahead and include the flowers on that list. If the bride’s family is paying for everything, she may end up picking up the costs for those flowers as well.

You can expect to pay based on the flowers you’ve chose. For example, if you were going with a single rose for each boutonniere, you can probably expect to pay about $10 for each one. If you go with a cheaper flower, like a carnation, you can likely save a bit of money. The more elaborate the design, the more costly the flowers.

Looking to save a bit of cash on the arrangements? There are several alternatives you may want to think about. You can get a small bouquet instead. You could also do simple floral wedding hair accessories for your bridesmaids and special women on the list. Just make sure you notify everyone in advance. Blouse pins, for women, are also completely acceptable in place of a corsage. If you’re really good with decorations, feel free to make these yourself. You can find patterns online, and it’s actually easier than you think. If, however, you’re unsure of your ability to tackle this task on your own, go ahead and go with the professionals. They can help you tackle the task with style.

Creative Alternatives

Looking for an even cheaper solution? How about hosting a garden wedding where the flowers are already there on scene, and you don't need to do anything with them but utilize their beauty! That will save on ceremony flowers, aisle flowers, or any decorations needed for the ceremony. Plus, your photos will be stunning!